37 Million Bees Found Dead After GMO Fields Were Planted Nearby

Around 37 million bees at a farm in Canada have died after GMO corn was planted in the nearby area, according to a local beekeeper.

Dave Schuit, a beekeeper who produces honey in Elmwood, Canada, claims that since GMO corn was planted in the nearby area, his farm has lost around 37 million bees (approximately 600 hives). According to reports, Schuit and other local beekeepers believe neonicotinoids, or “neonics” are to blame for the influx of bee deaths.

Image: Flickr, Mark Skipper

“Once the corn started to get planted our bees died by the millions,” Schuit said.

In Europe, the use of neonicotinoid class of pesticides has been reomoved from the market because they contaminate pollen and nectar, which ultimately damages and kills pollinators and other insects. However, despite the obvious dangers this chemical can cause, in the U.S the chemical is still widely used across the country.

Imidacloprid and Clothianidin, two of Bayer CropScience’s most widely used pesticide, both contain neonics and have been linked with many large-scale bee ‘die-offs’ in both European and U.S. countries. However, despite the dangers associated with the use of this chemical, the pesticides are still regularly used and sold on the market.

Despite their size, the impact bees have on the environment is almost unparalleled. In fact, bees are responsible for pollinating about one-sixth of the flowering plant species worldwide and approximately 400 different agricultural types of plant.

In the past, scientists have tried to conclude why bee populations are in rapid decline. While it is not been proven that pesticides directly kill the bees that come into contact with the chemical, many scientists believe there is a strong link between the use of the pesticide and a phenomenon they refer to as “colony collapse disorder” (CCD).

Although we are unable to definitively determine what is causing the terminal decline of bee populations around the world, using all the scientific evidence that is currently available, it is clear that pesticides are having a significantly negative effect on bee populations.

Although the United States have yet to follow suit, several states – including California, Alaska, New York, and Massachusetts – are currently considering legislation that would ban neonicotinoids. In fact, just last month Maryland came the first state to pass a neonic-restricting bill; Maryland’s Pollinator Protection Act has eliminated consumer use of neonicotinoids in the state.

MD legislature was first in nation to pass neonic-restricting bill; the bill will now officially become law! pic.twitter.com/bxP4LRVZMD

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5 COMMENTS

The bee anilation has been going on for away to long.
It was only been a matter of time for a catastrophic event like this to happen in Canada, we’ve been warned time and again. Why will the political leaders not stand up to these chemical companies? Monsanto and their ‘ilk’ have endless monitory resources and the lack of action by our so called political leaders leads to a conclusion that huge pay outs or kick backs are going into some off shore bank accounts.